Chelsea's Manager Maresca Calls Lead-Up Time as His 'Worst Two Days' at the Blues

Chelsea tactician Enzo Maresca stated that the build-up to Saturday's victory against Everton was "the toughest 48 hours" he has experienced at Stamford Bridge.

The 44-year-old delivered a rather mysterious message in his after-game interview despite earning a 2-0 win at Stamford Bridge through strikes from Cole Palmer and Malo Gusto.

Those points sent Chelsea back into the Premier League's top four, perhaps lightening the atmosphere following a loss to Atalanta in the Champions League that had extended the team's drought without a win to consecutive matches.

However, when asked about Gusto's assist and general display, Maresca unexpectedly disclosed his annoyance over the previous two days at the club.

"The way the lads want to develop has been superb and this is the explanation why I applaud them - because with numerous problems, they are doing very well after a difficult week," he commented.

"Since I joined the club, the last 48 hours have been the most difficult because several people withheld support from us."

Pressed on his meaning, the former Leicester City manager added: "Most difficult 48 hours since I joined the club because people failed to back me and the team."

When asked if he meant people within at Chelsea, he replied: "In general. Overall," before specifying when asked if it was directed towards supporters or the press: "I love the fans and we are very pleased with the fans."

Fitness and Suspension Woes

Maresca also highlighted Chelsea's ongoing fitness and disciplinary problems, noting they had been without star attacker Cole Palmer for a large portion of the campaign, as well as losing key midfielder Moises Caicedo to a three-match ban and striker Liam Delap to two significant injuries.

"I really praise the players and the squad because we played 16 Premier League games, 5 of them minus Moises Caicedo, eleven of them minus Cole Palmer, almost all of them without Liam Delap," he said.

"And this squad, no matter who is on the pitch, they are performing fantastic. Today was 5 games in 12 days so for sure when you see Cole Palmer there, we have said many times that he's our best player but we play the vast majority of the season minus our best player.

"We play five games in the Premier League without Moises Caicedo. This is the reason why I'm so delighted for the players and it's something that I would want people externally to acknowledge because the work from the players is remarkable."

Chelsea's success over Everton strengthened their standing in 4th place in the Premier League standings, with a Carabao Cup last-eight tie at Cardiff and a league trip to Newcastle to come next week.

Uncertainty Over Maresca's Remark

It was ambiguous who or what prompted Maresca to describe the previous 48 hours as the most difficult of his tenure as Chelsea head coach.

In that window, the coach had traveled back with his staff and players from Bergamo, conducted a session at Cobham, faced a pre-match press briefing where he appeared at ease, and engineered a win over an in-form Everton side.

It was unclear whether any particular media reports had irked him, if online comments were a factor, or if it was something deeper from inside the club at Stamford Bridge.

Maresca only sought to deny that it was an matter involving the club's supporters, a section of which have not yet fully embrace him since his appointment from Leicester in July last year.